corey



Feb. 21, 1956 c, COREY 2,735,603

FIRE ESCAPE Filed March 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

Calvin H. Corey INVENTOR.

Feb. 21, 1956 c, COREY 2,735,603

FIRE ESCAPE Filed March 3, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2o Fig.5

FigJO Calvin H. Corey INVENTOR.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in devices which are generally known as fire escapes, and particularly the invention concerns itself with a foldable or collapsible ladder structure which may be conveniently and dependably used while making emergency exits through windows or the like.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of flexible metallic tapes which constitute the side members of the ladder and have secured thereto a plurality of rungs, the tapes, by virtue of their flexibility, enabling the ladder to be folded, so to speak, so that the rungs thereof are disposed in closely spaced relation.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for spacing the rungs away from a wall when the ladder is in use, so that a user may properly place his feet thereon.

The advantages of the invention lie in its simplicity of construction, in its efficient and dependable operation, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention in readiness for use;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the invention in its folded position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 55 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 77 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the embodiment of Figure 6 in readiness for use;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modified embodiment of the invention; and,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 10-10 in Figure 9.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to Figures 1-5 inclusive, the invention consists of a fire escape or ladder designated generally by the reference character 20, the same embodying in its construction a pair of spaced parallel tapes 22 of flexible metallic material, which tapes have secured at longitudinally spaced points thereto a plurality of transversely extending rungs 24.

This is accomplished by providing the end portions of each rung with a pair inwardly extending, open ended nited States Patent slots 26 to receive the tapes, and extending rivets 28 through the slotted end portions of the rungs and through the tapes, whereby to firmly secure the same together.

When the invention is not in use, such as for example, while it is in storage, the rungs 24 are brought together into a closely spaced relation as shown in Figure 4, while the tapes 22 are permitted to fold themselves outwardly to one side of the ladder in a form of loops, indicated at 30. In this fashion the entire device occupies a very small volume of space and may be readily stored.

However, when the invention is to be used, it is suspended by means of a pair of hooks 32, attached to the upper ends of the tapes 22, from a suitable support, such as a window sill 34, and the ladder is permitted to hang downwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The weight of the ladder itself as well as the additional weight of a person using the same, will cause the tapes 22 to stretch somewhat, thus spacing the rungs 24 apart sufliciently to facilitate efiective use of the ladder. However, it is to be noted that because the tapes 22 were bent or folded into the loops 30, they do not readily return to a straight or fiat form, but portions of the tapes between the rungs remain outwardly convex to some extent, so as to provide what may be referred to as abutment members 36 which engage the outside wall 38 of a building where the ladder is used, and thereby space the rungs 24 away from the wall to facilitate proper placing of feet thereon.

In a slightly modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying Figures 68 inclusive, the tapes 22 and rungs 24 are the same as in the embodiment already described, but the aforementioned rivets 28 are substituted by pins 40 having screw-threaded shanks 42 extended through the slotted end portions of the rungs and through the tapes 22 for the purpose of securing the same together. The screw-threaded shanks 42 of the pins 40 are provided with suitable nuts 44 and the pins 40 themselves, projecting to one side of the ladder, are adapted to abut the wall 38 so as to afford supplemental means for sustaining the rungs 24 away from the wall. These supplemental means are particularly useful in instances where the ladder, after having been initially extended, is repeatedly used by numerous persons, whose weight may eventually stretch the tapes 22 to an almost straight or flat condition.

In a further modified embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying Figures 9 and 10, the rungs 50 are adapted to be formed by cutting from an extruded U-shaped channel, so that abutment members 52 are provided integrally at the ends of the rungs in substitution for the abutment pins 40. The rungs 50 are provided with slots 54 wherein the tapes 22 may be secured by suitable screws 56, as illustrated in Figure 10.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An extensible fire escape comprising a pair of spaced abutment means for spacing the rungs away from a wall.

2. An extensible fire escape comprising a pair of spaced parallel tapes of metallic material, said tapes being formed with a plurality of juxtaposed loops with adjacent loops interconnected by intermediate portions of the tapes, a plurality of rungs secured to and extending between corresponding intermediate portions, and books on one end of the tapes for suspending the fire escape from a suitable support, abutment means comprising rigid parallel members provided at the ends of said rungs and extending laterally of said intermediate portions.

3. A fire escape comprising a set of opposite spaced parallel tapes of flexible material, said tapes being preformed with oppositely offset alternate and intermediate like portions, and a plurality of rungs secured to said intermediate portions, said alternate and intermediate portions lying in parallel planes transverse to said rungs whereby the alternate portions constitute abutment means for spacing said intermediate portions and said rungs away from a wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,139 Prushey Jan. 23, 1894 800,934 McArthur Oct. 3, 1905 816,896 Bihl Apr. 3, 1906 1,427,294 Hughes Aug. 29, 1922 

